Smuggler Captain MTG Card

Smuggler Captain offers tailored card acquisition, strengthening strategic play with adaptable draft mechanic advantage. Acceleration benefits include casting without mana cost, allowing for game-tilting plays ahead of the traditional curve. Instant speed interaction enables surprise tactics, maximizing turn cycle utility for this unique MTG creature.

Smuggler Captain - Conspiracy: Take the Crown

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Pirate
Released	2016-08-26
Set symbol
Set name	Conspiracy: Take the Crown
Set code	CN2
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	47
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Winona Nelson

Text of card

Draft Smuggler Captain face up. As you draft a card, you may reveal it, note its name, then turn Smuggler Captain face down. When Smuggler Captain enters the battlefield, you may search your library for a card with a name you noted for cards named Smuggler Captain, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.

Cards like Smuggler Captain

Smuggler Captain stands out in the realm of creature cards with unique effects in MTG. This card shares similarities with the likes of Recruiter of the Guard and Imperial Recruiter, which also have the ability to search your library for a creature card when entering the battlefield. However, Smuggler Captain takes this a step further by allowing the player to choose a card with any mana value and stash it away to be cast during the next turn.

Comparing it to Dimir House Guard, we observe that both have a recruitment-style effect, but Smuggler Captain offers a more direct and guaranteed way to get that key card into your hand without the sacrifice mechanism. Conversely, Goblin Matron is another creature that tutors for specific cards, in this case, goblins, but Smuggler Captain is not restricted by creature type, giving it broader utility across various deck builds.

After reviewing these features and parallels among utility creatures in MTG, Smuggler Captain certainly provides a unique tactical advantage with its versatile tutoring effect, enhancing strategic deck play and potential for game-winning combinations.

Recruiter of the Guard - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Smuggler Captain has the unique mechanic of drafting a card from outside the game, which provides a significant advantage by tailoring your resources to the current battlefield scenario. This ability ensures you get a card that’s perfectly suited for the moment, keeping your hand diverse and increasing your options for strategic plays.

Resource Acceleration: The drafted card from Smuggler Captain enters the battlefield without having to pay its mana cost. This essentially gives you free access to powerful effects or creatures that can quickly tilt the game in your favor, bypassing traditional resource restrictions.

Instant Speed: While Smuggler Captain itself may not have instant speed, it interacts favorably with cards that can be played at instant speed. This means you can set up surprise tactics by drafting an instant card with its ability, allowing for unpredictable and potentially game-winning responses during the full turn cycle.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Smuggler Captain card requires you to discard a card when it’s drafted, potentially depleting your hand and forcing you to lose resources that might be useful later on.

Specific Mana Cost: With an exact mana combination needed to cast the Smuggler Captain, this card might not fit smoothly into every deck, especially those that run on a tight mana base or that do not include the necessary colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that is on the higher side for its effects, you might find that the Smuggler Captain could be outclassed by other creatures or spells that offer greater value or impact on the game at a similar, if not lower, mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Smuggler Captain’s unique draft ability allows it to adapt seamlessly into a variety of deck strategies. Its flexibility to bring in the most suitable creature card for any situation is a boon for deck builders looking for responsive plays.

Combo Potential: This card is a linchpin for creating powerful synergies. Its draft effect, which pulls a creature card when it enters the battlefield, can set up game-winning combos by fetching the perfect piece to complete your strategic puzzle.

Meta-Relevance: As the MTG landscape shifts, having a responsive card like Smuggler Captain can be critical. Its ability to draft a key creature card based on the current meta allows players to adapt their deck ‘on the fly’ to counter prevailing deck types, providing a competitive edge in varied play environments.

How to beat

Smuggler Captain offers a level of tactical flexibility that can present itself as a challenge on the battlefield. Its draft ability allows a player to effectively select an ace card from their deck, potentially turning the tide of the game. This capability makes it crucial for opponents to anticipate and neutralize before the captain’s influence becomes insurmountable.

Addressing this threat requires a strategy that either disrupts the opponent’s deck mechanics or removes Smuggler Captain from play directly. Counterspells are an essential tool in this regard, as they negate the captain’s draft ability activation. Removal spells are equally effective, capable of dispatching the captain before the drafted card becomes a factor. Targeted discard effects can also preemptively disrupt the selected card from the opponent’s hand, undermining the planned strategy.

Playing against Smuggler Captain thus demands foresight and control over the game’s tempo. By employing removal, countermeasures, and disruption tactics, you can dismantle the synergy that Smuggler Captain aims to create and maintain a competitive edge in your Magic: The Gathering matches.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Smuggler Captain MTG card by a specific set like Conspiracy: Take the Crown, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Smuggler Captain and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Smuggler Captain has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Smuggler Captain card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2016-08-23	If a Smuggler Captain enters the battlefield under your control, but you didn’t draft one, there will be no applicable noted names. You may search and shuffle your library, but you can’t find any cards.